Overcoming Years of Denial

I swim, I work at a pool, and have off and on for nearly 17 years. (gosh I feel old now) I am the last one to give up my flip-flops in the Fall and the first to drag them out in the Spring. It's very important to have good feet hygiene when you wear sandals all the time. I take my pedicures pretty serious. I do them myself, foot soak with lemon juice, lava rock scrub, emollient, lotion or oil, clipping, filing, polishing, the works. And I never go more than a month year round. Genetically I have fast working calluses, so I've got to stay on top of it. Sorry Mom. I bet you're looking at your feet right now thinking, I need a peticure.

Off and on I have had red puffy toes since I can remember. I always blame this on the weather and how I was not meant to live in cold weather. Like it was some sort of frost bite or something. In the summer I blame the grass, I'm allergic to grass. I've suspected it was nail polish, but seriously who is allergic to nail polish?

What finally did it, was the three boys and the dogs. Getting your feet stepped on when your toes are already very mad, hurts really really bad. One day after I totally chewed out Lucy as though she could understand me and would actually care, Mike finally said you need to get over your feet. But I was almost crying every time they stepped on me. A little bump and I was dying. Stubbing my toe was torture. I actually started to wear shoes again to save my feet. But then because I really don't like shoes, so I decided to quit the polish and test that out. After 2 weeks of no polish my toes are so happy. But my feet are so ugly. So I researched it and sure enough there are several lines that make special polish. They are acetone free, ethyl acetate free, formaldehyde free (seriously--formaldehyde--gross!), odor free, and of coarse cruelty free. I even got the remover that goes with it. The polish was $6.99 and I had to go to Whole Foods (cheaper than shipping), but it will be worth it if it keeps my feet happy and looking nice.